Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
9 Birds That Attack Humans
Bird attacks on humans are usually an action intended to protect territory or the young. It’s rarely pure aggressive. It’s not uncommon for a bird to attack because it mistakes something (like a person) for food.
Mockingbirds
It’s not common but not unheard of that mockingbirds go after humans and other animals. Like many of these cases, the creature goes bonkers if they perceive a threat to their territory. The birds have claws and beaks and use them effectively as weapons. While no one’s getting killed, the birds are leaving noticeable damage to human skin.
Swallows
Normally not a physical menace to society, the swallow does go after people on rare occasions. They swoop down unexpectedly on people standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. The swallows instinctively and naturally go after potential predators to their eggs and nests.
Magpies
Magpies are not prone to threaten people. Curious and intelligent, magpies are ready to go for it if they feel they or their nests are in danger. There are rumors that magpies are also gypsy thieves! But research shows shiny objects don’t appeal to the birds.
Crows
In cartoons, crows tend to be mischievous and aggressive. The behavior is based on fact. The crow is pretty fearsome and can be pushy. They’re notorious for dive-bombing when they feel threatened. Worse, since they perform in groups, their allies may join in.
Crows usually circle overhead then come in fast and low. You might be standing between them and a nearby meal. (They’re famous for going after a picnic table.) Crows may want something in your garden or field and you’re in the way. Some unsuspecting victims are just walking their dogs. Now, crows exhibit facial recognition so if you’ve been targeted and dare show up again, watch out. It’d be a good idea to simply avoid their territory.
Canadian Goose
The Canadian Goose is a funny bird. Between April and June, these geese tend to be more temperamental than the rest of the year. Those months represent nesting season and the female is particularly aggressive and even dangerous when their eggs or goslings get too close to humans. The first line of defense is to chase the perceived nuisance away. This is the case in many areas, especially around golf courses and park ponds.
Gulls
The most likely reasons this bird attacks a human is to defend itself (even if the threat isn’t real), to protect its nest, or because it’s mistaken a human for food. Depending on the locale, gulls can be extremely aggressive, especially around food. Any of these perceived threats are avoidable. Keep your distance at all times, especially near the bird’s nest.
The gull belongs to the Laridae family. There are many species and informally all species tend to get lumped together as seagulls. This is a misconception. The ornithology community doesn’t recognize any species specifically called seagulls.
Owls
It probably sounds off-kilter, considering our picture of the owl is of a noble, solitary creature perched quietly in trees, but the owl can be quite dangerous. We may know that they swoop down to capture prey. But, like other animals we see as passive, owls can be incredibly vicious if their family’s threatened. There are also records of owls attacking people in public areas. Thankfully, those incidents are rare.
cassowary
The San Diego Zoo says the cassowary is the most dangerous bird in the world. So, it makes sense that the cassowary made the list of birds that attack humans. Each foot comes with a four-inch claw. With these powerful claws, the cassowary can painfully slice into an animal with a single kick.
The bird’s pretty quick, hitting 31 mph in dense forest. The cassowary’s a large bird, capable of growing up to six feet tall and weighing as much as 130 pounds. Recently, a man in Florida who raised cassowaries was killed by one of his broods. It’s believed the man, who fell suddenly and likely startled the bird, got attacked.
Ostriches
We know ostriches to have a reputation more for being cowardly than anything. Preferring to run from predators and threats, they are famous for literally hiding their heads in the sand (something they don’t do). But in many parts of the world, the ostrich is a powerful bird whose attacks have resulted in serious injury and fatalities every year.
In the wild, ostriches avoid predators, including humans. But threatened or cornered, the big bird can be dangerous and will attack. In South Africa, ostrich farming is a thriving business and humans deal with feral, wild ostrich populations regularly. So South Africans are quite familiar with the risks of direct contact with the ostrich.
#birdsattackhuman #birds #attackhuman
9 Birds That Attack Humans
Bird attacks on humans are usually an action intended to protect territory or the young. It’s rarely pure aggressive. It’s not uncommon for a bird to attack because it mistakes something (like a person) for food.
Mockingbirds
It’s not common but not unheard of that mockingbirds go after humans and other animals. Like many of these cases, the creature goes bonkers if they perceive a threat to their territory. The birds have claws and beaks and use them effectively as weapons. While no one’s getting killed, the birds are leaving noticeable damage to human skin.
Swallows
Normally not a physical menace to society, the swallow does go after people on rare occasions. They swoop down unexpectedly on people standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. The swallows instinctively and naturally go after potential predators to their eggs and nests.
Magpies
Magpies are not prone to threaten people. Curious and intelligent, magpies are ready to go for it if they feel they or their nests are in danger. There are rumors that magpies are also gypsy thieves! But research shows shiny objects don’t appeal to the birds.
Crows
In cartoons, crows tend to be mischievous and aggressive. The behavior is based on fact. The crow is pretty fearsome and can be pushy. They’re notorious for dive-bombing when they feel threatened. Worse, since they perform in groups, their allies may join in.
Crows usually circle overhead then come in fast and low. You might be standing between them and a nearby meal. (They’re famous for going after a picnic table.) Crows may want something in your garden or field and you’re in the way. Some unsuspecting victims are just walking their dogs. Now, crows exhibit facial recognition so if you’ve been targeted and dare show up again, watch out. It’d be a good idea to simply avoid their territory.
Canadian Goose
The Canadian Goose is a funny bird. Between April and June, these geese tend to be more temperamental than the rest of the year. Those months represent nesting season and the female is particularly aggressive and even dangerous when their eggs or goslings get too close to humans. The first line of defense is to chase the perceived nuisance away. This is the case in many areas, especially around golf courses and park ponds.
Gulls
The most likely reasons this bird attacks a human is to defend itself (even if the threat isn’t real), to protect its nest, or because it’s mistaken a human for food. Depending on the locale, gulls can be extremely aggressive, especially around food. Any of these perceived threats are avoidable. Keep your distance at all times, especially near the bird’s nest.
The gull belongs to the Laridae family. There are many species and informally all species tend to get lumped together as seagulls. This is a misconception. The ornithology community doesn’t recognize any species specifically called seagulls.
Owls
It probably sounds off-kilter, considering our picture of the owl is of a noble, solitary creature perched quietly in trees, but the owl can be quite dangerous. We may know that they swoop down to capture prey. But, like other animals we see as passive, owls can be incredibly vicious if their family’s threatened. There are also records of owls attacking people in public areas. Thankfully, those incidents are rare.
cassowary
The San Diego Zoo says the cassowary is the most dangerous bird in the world. So, it makes sense that the cassowary made the list of birds that attack humans. Each foot comes with a four-inch claw. With these powerful claws, the cassowary can painfully slice into an animal with a single kick.
The bird’s pretty quick, hitting 31 mph in dense forest. The cassowary’s a large bird, capable of growing up to six feet tall and weighing as much as 130 pounds. Recently, a man in Florida who raised cassowaries was killed by one of his broods. It’s believed the man, who fell suddenly and likely startled the bird, got attacked.
Ostriches
We know ostriches to have a reputation more for being cowardly than anything. Preferring to run from predators and threats, they are famous for literally hiding their heads in the sand (something they don’t do). But in many parts of the world, the ostrich is a powerful bird whose attacks have resulted in serious injury and fatalities every year.
In the wild, ostriches avoid predators, including humans. But threatened or cornered, the big bird can be dangerous and will attack. In South Africa, ostrich farming is a thriving business and humans deal with feral, wild ostrich populations regularly. So South Africans are quite familiar with the risks of direct contact with the ostrich.
#birdsattackhuman #birds #attackhuman
